Marking devices



L. GROSS MARKING DEVICES May 13, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 27, 1955 R. m m a May 13, 1958 v L. GROSS 2,834,288

MARKING msvrcas Filed April 27, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 13, 1958 L. GROSS 2,834,288

MARKING DEVICES 7 Filed April 27, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVEN TOR. Ana/s 6:9058

United States Patent MARKING DEVICES Louis Gross, Plainfield, N. J., assignor to Adolph Gottscho, Inc., Hillside, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 27, 1955, Serial No. 504,291

15 Claims. (Cl. 101-35) 7 The present invention relates generally to marking devices, and is particularly directed to marking devices for imprinting the rear surface and a side surface of each of a succession of rectangular cartons, containers or articles and the like, as they are conveyed along a straight path.

Heretofore, when markings were required on the rear end surfaces as well as on one of the side surfaces, of rectangular cartons and the like, it was the general prac tice to move the cartons along a first conveyor path, with the sides of the cartons disposed parallel to that conveyor path, while applying markings to the side surfaces of zthe successive cartons, and then to transfer the marked cartons to a second conveyor, extending at right angles .to the first conveyor path and along which the cartons were moved with the front and back ends of the cartons extending parallel to the second conveyor path, so that the :front and back ends, or either of them, could be marked during the movement of the successive cartons along the :second conveyor path. It is apparent'that the procedure set forth above requires separate marking devices for applying markings to the side surfaces and to the front and ,back end surfaces, or either of the latter, of the successive cartons, and that two conveyors are necessary for disposing the cartons and the like in the correct relationship to the marking devices during the marking of the side .surfaces and of the front and back end surfaces of the cartons. Thus, the above described arrangements for ap-' plying markings to the sides and to the trailing end or back end surfaces of cartons and the like moving along a conveyor having required complex and costly equipment, .and the need to transfer the cartons from a first conveyor to a second conveyor, disposed at right angles to the first, gives rise to difiiculties in obtaining the accurate registration of the markings on the successive cartons.

The desirability of applying markings, for example, code markings, or other descriptive indications, identifying the contents of the cartons and the like, to at least :a side surface and a back end surface of a rectangular carton has been widely recognized, in that the contents of the cartons can then be ascertained when the cartons are :stacked on a shelf or other storage area with any one of :the marked surfaces facing toward the front. In a copending application, Serial No. 356,374, filed May 21, 1953, by Ira S. Gottscho, Malcolm Hirschey and Andrew vJ. Alessi, Jr., a marking device has been disclosed which operates to mark a side surface and the back end surface of each of a succession of rectangular cartons and the like as such cartons are moved along a single straight conveyor path. The device disclosed in the above identified application avoids the necessity of employing two right angularly related conveyors and separate marking devices for imprinting the side and back or trailing end surfaces of the successive cartons. In the device disclosed in the above I identified application, a support arm is swingably mounted .at one side of a conveyor path and is yieldably urged to swing in the direction toward the conveyorpath. The support arm, at its free end, rotatably carries a marking unit frame having a marking wheel rotatably disposed thereon, and the marking unit frame is rotated, either by frictional contact of a portion thereof with the carton to be marked, or by a positive drive from the conveyor carrying the carton and having a friction or slip clutch therein. In operation, the marking unit frame is rotated in one direction to bring the marking wheel into initial rolling contact wth the adjacent side surface of the carton and the wheel then rolls around the rear corner of that side surface to apply markings, during such roiling engagement with the carton, to the side surface and back or trailing end surface of the latter. However, it has been found that, under certain extreme circumstances, the frictional drive of the rotatable marking unit frame, particularly when the drive is efiected by frictional contact of a portion of the frame with the side surface of the carton, requires a strong contact pressure between the carton and that portion of the marking unit frame, and this strong contact pressure is diflicult to maintain uniformly in view of the possible differences in the dimensions of the cartons and the rigidity of the side surfaces thereof engageable with the marking unit frame. Further, it has been found that when a device of the kind disclosed in the above identified application is employed in connection with a rapidly moving conveyor, or when the successive cartons on the conveyor have small spaces, or unequal spaces, therebetween, it is possible for the marking wheel to jam against the front surface of a carton to be marked,

, and further that the marking wheel may, on occasion,

bounce while travelling'around the corner between the marked side surface and the back surface of a carton to be marked.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved marking device which operates to mark the side and rear or trailing end surfaces of a succession of rectangular cartons and the like as such cartons are conveyed along a straight path, while avoiding the above described difficulties.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a marking device which includes a support arm pivoted adjacent one end for swinging at one side of a conveyor path and yieldably urged in the direction toward the conveyor path with a rotatable marking unit being mounted upon the free end of the support arm, and wherein the rotational position of the marking unit frame with respect to the support arm is positively determined in response to the angular position of the support arm relative to the conveyor path so that the marking contact of a marking wheel on the marking unit frame with the side surface of a carton to be marked, and the smooth travel of the marking wheel around the corner between the side surface and back or trailing end surface will be ensured.

Another object of the invention is to provide a marking ,device of the above described character capable of accurately locating the impressions applied to the side and back or trailing end surfaces of the successive rectangular articles or cartons conveyed past the device even when the lateral positions of the side surfaces to be marked may vary to some extent.

A further object is to provide a marking device of the above described character having a minimum overall height so that the marking device can be installed on existing packaging machines wherein the space available for such installation may be restricted.

The foregoing, and other objects, features and advantages of the invention, are achieved by providing a swingable support arm pivotally mounted at one end on a vertical pivot which is supported at one side of a straight conveyor path and is adjustable vertically and transversely relative to the conveyor path. The support arm .is yieldably urged to swing in the direction toward the conveyor path and, at its free end, carries a rotatable marking unit frame. The marking unit frame has a marking wheel rotatably mounted thereon at a locatiop par; allel to and spaced from the vertical axis of rotation of the frame, and also carries a'cam follower which engages it bly haped m ember s h t, swinging Qfith p q a bqu s e cal pi o produces rotation of the marking unit frame relative to the support arm." As the marking unit frame is rotated in responseto yield.- able urging of the support arm toward, the conveyor path, the marking wheelfirst comes into rolling and marking contact with the adjacent side surface of. acarton. passing the marking device on the associated conveyor, and then rolls around the rear corner of that side surface to continue the marking of the rear or trailing end surface of the carton. Carton actuated control means are provided for regulating or determining the location along the side surface of the carton at which marking contact of the marking wheel with the side surface will commence. Following the application of an impression to the rear or trailing end surface of a carton, the carton next in line on the conveyor, engages the carton actuated control means to return the support arm outwardly toward its original position and to effect the corresponding rotation of the marking unit frame for withdrawal of the marking wheel out of the path of the next carton. Further, the marking wheel has a lock or latch arrangement associated therewith for rotationally positioning the marking wheel at the completion of the marking of the rear surface of a carton, and which is released only when the marking wheel is again moved into contact with the side surface of the carton next in line on the conveyor to ensure that the marking wheel will then be properly positioned for the commencement of the marking of the next carton.

In order that the present invention may be clearly understood, an illustrative embodiment thereofis hereinafter described in detail and shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a marking device embodying the present invention for marking the side and rear or trailing end surfaces of a succession ofrectangular cartons and the like moving along a straight "conveyor path; x

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device embodying this invention, taken along the line 2 2"e Fig.1;-

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device of Fig. l, but on a smaller scale, andshowing the relative positions'of" the several parts upon theicom'pletion of the markingof one carton and prior to thearrival of the carton next in line on the associated conveyor at a positionopposit the; marking device;

Fig. '4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the positions of the several parts 'after a carton' 'to be marked has moved into a position opposite the marking devise and prior to the initial contact of the marking wheel i'th the adjacent side surface of that cartoin" Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4,but showing the positions of the several parts at the instant when thein'ark ing wheel initially comes into'contact with the sidesur' face of the carton to be'marked;

Fig. 6 is a side elevatio'nalyi'ew, on a reduced scale, of the marking device illustrated in Fig.1? i 1 Fig. 7 is a plan view of a basefor supporting the marking device of Fig. 1, but'on a smaller scale;

'Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of a sub-assembly included in the marking device of Fig. l; and Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of a marking wheel included in the marking device of Fig. l, which sectional view is in a plane normal to the axis of the wheel. Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to Figs. 1, 2 and 6 thereof, a marking device embodying the present invention is there illustrated and generally identified by the reference numeral 10. I he marking device IQ is constructed and arranged to mark 'a 's'idesur ace.

and the trailing end or rear surface of each of a successinu. Qfv rectangu ar cartons, articles an the ike, indicated at A and A on Figs. 3, 4 and 5, as such cartons or articles are moved in spaced apart relationship along a rectilinear or straight path past the marking device in the direction indicated by the arrows 12. Such movement of the cartons or articles A and A can be produced by any suitable conveyor (not shown), and, in the vicinity of the marking device, a suitable guide rail or the like (not shown) is provided alongside the conveyor path to slidably' engage a side surface 'of each carton or article as the latter move's past the device 10 and thereby to prevent lateral movementof the carton or the article in the direction away from the marking device."

The marking device 10 includes vertical support posts 14a and 14b (Figs. 1, 6 and 7) which are mounted at either their upper or lower ends in a suitable base 16, and the latter is secured adjacent the path of travel of the cartons or articles atthe'side remote from the above mentionedguide rail. The base 16 is capable of being supported on structure (not shown) below the conveyor path or from overhead framework (not shown), and for purpose the base 16 is provided with laterally elongated slots 18 for receiving holts which secure'the base to either the overhead framework or the underlying structure, as the case may be, while the elongation of the slots 18, pcrmits'the lateraladjustment of the base 16, and hence of the marking device 10,'with respect to the conveyor, path;

' The marking device 10 further includes a horizontal frame 20,having hollow bosses 22a and 2212 (Fig. l) slidably receiving the posts 14a and 141), respectively, with the support. posts being secured'inthe respective hollow bosses of frame'20 by suitable gripping members, for example, by set screws 24. Thus, by loosening the set screws 24. it is possible to effectvertical adjustment of frame 20along the support posts 14a and 14b thereby to vary the vertical location of he markings applied to the side and trailing end or back surfaces of the successive articles on the associated conveyor.

As best'seen in Fig. 3, the frame 20 is of bent or generally c shaped configuration in plan form and, at the end thereof first encountered by the:succcssiveconveyed articles, the frame 20 carries a vertical pivot pin 26 which is held" in any desired rotationally adjusted position in' the frame, for example, by set screws 28'(Fig. 1). A

support arm 30 is swingably mounted, adjacent one of its'ends, on the pivot pin26 forswinging in a horizontal plane above the frame 20. The support arm 30 extends from the pivot'pin '26 generally in the direction of movement of-the cartons"or'articles,"as indicated by the arrows 1'2, and the free'endportionof the support arm is bent laterally, as at"32f(Figs. 1, 2 and 3), and extends towardthe conveyor path. i

At its' laterally bent, free-end'portion 32, the support arm 30 has a'vertical pivot pin 34 depe nding'therefrom for rotatably supporting a marking unit frame, generally'identified'by the reference numeral 36IiAs seen in Figs. 1 and 2,"t he'marking"unit' frame 36 includes bifurcated arms 38 extending radially from the pivot pin 34,'and a single" arm 40 also cxtending more or less radially from 'the pivot pin'34 and at an obtuse angle to the"arms 38, so that the' frame 36 may be'con'sidered abell-crank'me'mberl 7 '7 I A m'arking'whe'el', which is generally identified by the reference numeral 42 and hereinafterdescribed in detail, is" rotatably mounted on an axle 44fexte nding" vertically between the arm's'ss and hon-rotatably secured to the latter-i,

A" cam plate 46 is mounted, as by the screws 48 engaging in 'elpngat'ed openings "(Fig. 1) upon the far end, cbn s ideredin fhe direction of travel of the articles orjthe c'onv of' th'eif e "2tl an d extends horizon tally fromthe latte r toward e cony ey o'r path. The

an arcuate cam, 'sl'otfE O in which a 'cani follower pin 52, depending from the free end of arm 4%, slidably engages (Fig. 2). Thus, as the support arm 30 swings horizontally toward and away from the conveyor path, the engagement of the follower pin 52in cam slot 50 controls the angular movement of the marking unit frame 36 with respect to the support arm 30. Preferably, as seen in Fig. 2, the follower pin 52 is secured to the arm 40 of the marking unit frame by an arrangement which includes a threaded extension 54 of the follower pin passing upwardly through arm 40 adjacent the free end of the latter and receiving a securing nut 56 above the arm. The upper end of extension 54 is grooved for the attachment thereto of one end of a coiled tension spring 58, which has its other end secured to an anchoring pin 60 (Fig. 1) carried by the support arm 30. The anchoring pin 60 is located on the support arm so that the spring 58 yieldably urges the marking unit frame to rotate in the counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5. The action of the spring 58 causes the follower pin 52 to ride against the longitudinal edge of cam slot 50 disposed away from the path of the cartons or articles on the conveyor so that the clearance or play'between the follower pin and the cam slot is thereby taken-up and will not affect the accuracy of the angular displacement of the marking unit frame 36 relative to support arm 30 in response to horizontal swinging of the latter.

As seen in Figs; 1 and 2, coiled torsion springs 62:: and 62b are disposed around the pivot pin 26, with one end of each of the torsion springs extending tangentially therefrom and bearing against an abutment screw 64 which extends through the support arm 30, while the other end of each of the torsion springs 62a and 62b is bent radially inward and received in a radially opening, axial slot 66 formed in the fixed pivot pin 26. The torsion springs 62a and 62b are thus arranged to yieldably urge support arm 30 to swing in the clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5, that is, in the direction moving the laterally bent portion 32 of the support arm toward or across the path of travel of the articles or cartons on the associated conveyor. Release of the set screws 28 makes it possible to rotationally adjust the pivot pin 26 for varying the spring force on the arm 30.

It is apparent from reference to the drawings that the marking unit frame 36 undergo-es a counter-clockwise movement relative to the support arm 30 in response to clockwise swinging of the support arm by reason of the cooperative action of the follower pin 52 on the marking unit frame with the slot 50 of the fixed cam plate 46. Further, it will be appreciated that, for any angular position or" support arm 30 with respect to the direction of the path of travel of the articles or cartons on the conveyor, the marking unit frame, and hence the marking wheel 42, occupies a particular position determined by the configuration of cam slot 5t).

in accordance with the present invention, the marking device further includes a mechanism, generally indicated by the reference numeral 68, for controlling the movements of support arm in response to the passage of the successive cartons or articles along the associated conveyor. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the control mechanism 68 includes a fixed, vertical pivot pin 70 carried by support arm 30 at a location intermediate the opposite ends of the latter and at the side of the support arm facing toward the conveyor path. A body 72 is pivotally mounted on the pin 70 and is provided with a radially extending arm 74 which projects therefrom in the general direction toward the end of the support arm pivoted on pin 26. Generally triangular, upper and lower actuating arms 76a and 76b, respectively, are secured to the upper and lower surfaces of the body 72 and extend radially therefrom in the direction away from the support arm and at an obtuse angle relative to the arm 74 (Fig. 1). The actuating arms 76a and 76b are preferably formed of a material having a low coefficient of friction, such as, for example, a material formed of superposed layers of fabric impregnated with a suitable resin, while the arm 74 and the body from which it extends are preferably formed of a hard and wear-resistant metal. As seen in Fig. l, the outer or free ends of the actuating arms are rounded, and the inner end of at least the arm 76a secured to the body 72 is' formed with two angularly related stop surfaces '78 and 80 which are adapted to cooperate with the adjacent edge surface portions of support arm 30 to limit the angular movement of the assembly consisting of body 72, arm 74, and actuating arms 76a and 7612 with respect to the support arm 30.

Further, a tension spring 82 (Figs. l and 2) extends between the arm 74 and the abutment screw 64 of the support arm to yieldably urge the assembly of the body 72, arm 74 and actuating arms 76a and 76b in the clockwise direction around pivot pin 70 with respect to the support arm 3!) as viewed in the drawings.

The end of frame 26 carrying the pivot pin 26 is provided with a bearing or guide surface 84 facing toward the path of travel of the cartons or articles on the associated conveyor and along which the successive cartons or articles slide during at least the initial phases of the marking thereof. The guide surface 3-4 is formed with an initial inclined portion 86 to prevent jamming of the front corner of the carton or article against the frame 2%]. The control mechanism 68 further includes a trigger member 88, preferably formed of a material having a low coefficient of friction, for example, of the kind ernployed for the actuating arms 76a and 76b, and which is pivotally mounted on top of the frame 20 adjacent the guide surface 84 for swinging about a pivot pin 95. The edge of the trigger member facing toward the path of travel of the cartons or articles conforms substantially to theconfiguration of the guide surface 84, with the exception that, adjacent its free end, the trigger member 38 is provided with a cut-out or notch 92 (Fig. 1). Further, the trigger member 88, at its free end, carries an upstanding pin 94 which is adapted to cooperate with the arm 74 in the manner hereinafter described in detail.

Referring to Fig. 9, it will be seen that the marking wheel 42 is provided with a lock or latch device, generally identified by the numeral 96, for positively establishing the rotational position of the wheel relative to its axle 44 at the commencement of a marking operation. Latch device 96 includes a plunger 98 movable radially in a suitable cavity 100 of the wheel body and having a nose 102 to project radially inward into the bore of the wheel body which receives axle A compression spring 1494 is disposed within the cavity 106 and acts against the plunger 98 to urge the latter radially inward to the position shown in Fig. 9, wherein the nose 162 is received in a keeper notch or groove 166 formed in the axle 44 and thereby prevents rotation of the marking wheel with respect to the axle. In order to provide for release of the nose 102 from the keeper groove 1%, an actuating rod 103 is connected to plunger 98 and extends slidably through a generally chordally arranged passage 119 in the wheel body to project beyond the periphery of the latter. The rod 108 is longitudinally dimensioned so that, when nose 102 is engaged in keeper groove 166, the end 112 of rod 108 projects beyond the periphery of the marking wheel. Thus, the end 112 of the actuating rod can be pushed inward in a manner hereinafter described in detail, to release nose 162 from the keeper groove 1&6 and thereby to permit rotation of wheel 42 relative to the fixed axle 44 until the inward pressure on the actuating rod is released and the nose 102 again registers with the groove 106. When the nose 192 is out of registry with the keeper groove 196,, the nose rides on the cylindrical surface of axle 44 and the end 112 of the actuating rod is maintained substantially flush with the periphery of the marking wheel.

Further, as seen in Fig. 9, the marking wheel 42 has rollers 113 rotatably mounted thereon within a suitable radially opening recess so that the peripheries of the rollers 113 project slightly beyond the periphery of the marking wheel. It will be noted that the rollers 113 are disposed ahead of the end 112 of the actuating rod considered in the direction of rotation of the marking wheel during rolling contact of the latter with the side and trailing end surfaces of an article.

As is usual, the marking wheel 42 has a suitable marking or type element secured to the periphery thereof, as indicated at 114 (Fig. 9), and to provide for the application of inked impressions to the side and trailing end surfaces of the successive cartons or articles, an inking roller 116 is rotatably mounted to effect rolling contact with the marking element 114 for the transfer of ink to the printing or raised surfaces of the marking element. Preferably, the inking roller 116 is of the kind having an internal ink reservoir feeding ink to a surrounding felt or other absorbent pad, and is rotatably supported from the marking unit frame 36. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention (Fig. 8), the inking roller 116 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 118 extending upwardly from one end of a lever arm 120 which is pivotally mounted, intermediate its ends, on a pivot pin 122 depending from the lower one of the bifurcated arms 38. The end of lever arm 120 remote from the inking roller carries a pin to which one end of a coiled tension spring 124 is attached, with the other end of that spring being secured to a suitable anchoring pin extending from the marking unit frame thereby to urge lever arm 120 to rock in the direction moving the inking roller toward the marking wheel. In order to adjustably limit the movement of the inking roller toward the marking wheel, the marking unit frame 36 is formed with a depending lug 126 having a stop screw 128 extending adjustably there through to be engaged by lever arm 120.

In order that the operation of the marking device 10 embodying the present invention may be fully understood, reference is made to Figs. 3, 4 and 5 which show the device in several successive phases of an operating cycle. At the conclusion of a marking operation (Fig. 3) the marked trailing end or back surface of the marked article A moves out of contact with the marking wheel 42 so that there is then no restraint upon the counterclockwise swinging of the frame 36 or the swinging of support arm 30 in the direction toward the path of travel of the successive articles on the conveyor, and the support arm is yieldably urged by the torsion springs 62a and 62b (Fig. 2) in that direction until the follower pin 52 depending from the marking unit frame 36 engages against the related end of the cam slot 56). With the support arm 30 at its innermost position and the pin 52 engaging against the end of cam slot 50, the marking wheel 42 is interposed in the path of travel of the cartons or articles on the associated conveyor, while the actuating arms 76a and 76b of the control mechanism 68 also project laterally inward across the path of travel and are interposed between the marking wheel and the carton or article A which is next in line on the conveyor following the marked carton A. It is also to be noted that at the conclusion of a marking operation, and prior to the arrival of the next carton or article A at the marking device, the trigger member 83 of the control mechanism is in a rocked position, as shown in Fig. 3, wherein the side edge of the trigger member projects inwardly beyond the guide surface 84 of the frame 20. Thus, when the article A to be marked reaches the marking device, the article first slidably engages the trigger member 88 and displaces the latter. outwardly about its pivot 90 until the side edge of he trigger member coincides with the guide surface 84 of the frame. During continued movement of the article A in the direction of the arrow 12, the side surface of the article or carton slides along the guide surface 84 of the frame, and then the front end of thecarton orrarticle engages the actuating arms 76a and 76b of the control mechanism 68. Since the outward swinging of the trigger member 38 about its pivot pin by engagement of the side surface of the article A with the trigger member has brought the pin 94 into contact with the edge of the arm 74 (Fig. 4), the pin 94 thereafter acts as a fulcrum about which the assembly consisting of the body 72, arm 74 and arms 76a and 76b turns in responce to the action of the forward end of the article A against the actuating arms 76a and 76b. During such turning of the above indicated assembly about the pin 94, the arm 74 slides relative to the latter and the pivot pin 70, by which that assembly is rockably mounted on the support arm 30, is moved outwardly, or away from, the path of travel of the articles on the conveyor. Thus, the support arm swings outwardly or away from the path of travel of the conveyor and, by reason of the engagement of the follower pin 52 in the cam slot 50 the marking unit frame 36 is rotated, relative to the support arm, in the clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, so that the marking wheel 42 is finally disposed at a location remote from the path of travel (Fig. 4).

As the front corner of the article A to be marked moves past the actuating arms 76a and 7615, the latter slidably engage the side surface of the carton or article, and, so long as the trigger member 88 continues to slidably engage the side surface of the carton or article, as shown in Fig. 4, the marking wheel 42 is maintained in a position out of contact with the side surface to be marked.

However, when the movement of the carton or article A has progressed to the position wherein the rear corner of the carton registers with the cutout or notch 92 of the trigger member 88, the latter is free to rock inwardly, that is, toward the path of travel. This release of the trigger member permits the torsion springs acting on support arm 30 to swing the latter inwardly through an angle sufficient to bring the marking wheel 42 against the side surface of the article A. It is to be noted that the latching or locking device 96 associated with the marking wheel 42 (Fig. 9) is arranged so that, when the wheel is in its rotationally locked position and moves laterally against the side surface of the carton or article, as represented in Fig. 5, the actuating rod 108 extends substantially normal to the side surface of the carton or article, whereby the end 11-2, which projects beyond the periphery of the wheel when the latter is in its locked'position, is depressed by contact with the side surface of the carton or article thereby to release the wheel and permit rotation of the latter in rolling contact with the side surface of the carton or article.

It is apparent from the above description of the operation of the'control mechanism 68 that the latter determines the distance -from the rear corner of the carton or article at which the marking wheel 42 first comes into rolling and marking contact with the side surface of the carton or article. Thus, without regard to the overall length of the carton or article, the markings applied to the side surfaces of the successive cartons will be disposed at a predetermined distance from the rear corners of the latter.

After the marking wheel has been brought into contact with the conveyed carton or article A, and as the advancement of the latter continues, the marking wheel rolls along the side surface of the carton and is pressed against the latter by the torsion springs 62a and 62b which act upon the support arm 30, and which, by reason of the connection of the marking unit frame 36 to the support arm, tend to urge the marking unit frame in the counterclockwise direction about a fulcrum defined by the follower pin 52 engaging in the cam slot 50.

When the advancement of the article or carton A has continued to the point where the marking wheel 42 reaches the trailing or back endjof-the marked side surface of the article ,A, the marking wheel is then free to roll about that corner and laterally across the trailing end or back surface of the carton. In this connection, it is to be noted that the cam slot 50 is shaped in order to ensure the continuous contact of the marking wheel with the trailing end or back surface of the article during the rolling of the marking wheel across that back surface. It is also to be understood, that, during the rolling of the wheel 42 laterally across the back surface of the article A, the marking wheel applies a marking to the back surface. Further, the rollers 113 projecting radially beyond the periphery of the marking wheel are circumferentially disposed on the latter so as to come into engagement with the back surface of the article A upon the completion of the application of the marking to the back surface, that is, when the marking wheel 42 has been returned to a rotational position, relative to its fixed axle 44, wherein the nose 102 of the latching or locking device 96 again registers with the .keeper groove 106 of the axle, whereupon the end 112 of the actuating rod 108 again projects beyond the periphery of the marking wheel, as shown in Fig. 3, and further rotation of the marking wheel with respect to its axle is prevented. If the follower pin 52 has not yet reached the end of the cam slot 50 when the application of the marking to the back surface of the article 'or carton has been completed and the latching device 96 is again operative to hold the wheel 42 nonrotatable on axle 44 so that further lateral movement of the marking wheel across the back surface of the article is possible in response to the continued advance of the marked carton or article, the engagement 'of the rollers 113 with that back surface permits such further inward movement of the marking wheel without the imposition of any strain upon the locking or latching mechanism and avoids the possibility of smearing or blurring of the marking by reason of the non-rotatable movement of the marking wheel across the back surface.

When the follower pin 52 reaches the end ofthe cam slot 50, so that further swinging movement of the marking unit frame 36 and of the support arm 30 is prevented, the marked carton or article moves out 'of contact with the marking wheel and the several parts are then positioned, as shown in Fig. 3, for the repetition of theabove described operational steps when the carton or article next in line on the conveyor reaches the marking device 10.

Since the swinging of the marking unit frame andmarking wheel from the position shown in Fig. 3 at the conclusion of a marking cycle to the position shown in Fig. 4', prior to initial contact with the side surface of the article to be marked, is effected by the engagement of that article with the actuating arms 76a and 76b of the control mechanism 68, it is apparent that there is no possibility that the marking wheel 42 will jam against the front end of the article to be marked even when the spacing between the successive articles or cartons on the conveyor may vary. Further, the arrangement whereby the position of the marking unit frame 36 relative to the support arm 30 is controlled by the cam slot 50 in response to swinging of the support arm under the action of the carton or article to be marked against the actuating arms- 76a and 76b, ensures that a relatively small angular displacement of support arm 30 in the direction away from the path of travel of the conveyor will produce a relatively large angular movement or swing of the marking wheel out of the path of travel, so that the marking device embodying this invention may be employed in association with rapidly moving conveyors or with conveyors having closely spaced cartons or articles thereon, without the danger that the marking wheel and its associated parts will become jammed between the successive cartons or articles. Finally, since the path followed by the marking wheel, particularly during the rolling of the latter around the rear corner and across the trailing end or back surface of the carton is determined by the configuration of the cam slot 50, it is apparent that the marking wheel can be made to maintain its contact with the carton or article throughout the marking of the side and rear surfaces end surface of each of a succession of rectangular articles moving along a straight path; said device comprising a marking wheel having marking means on the periphery thereof for rolling and marking contact with a sidesurface and the trailing end surface of each article in succession, frame means having said marking wheel rotatably mounted thereon, support means at one side of the straight path of travel of the articles and movable toward and away from that path, said frame means being rotatably mounted on said support means for swinging relative to the latter about an axis which is spaced from the axis of rotation of said marking wheel, cam means connected to said frame means and controlling the swinging of the latter in response to the movement of said support means, means yieldably urging said support means to move toward the path of travel of the articles, and means controlling the movement of said support means including a trigger member movable laterally into and out of the path of travel of the articles, actuating arms mounted on said support means for limited rocking with respect to the latter to project more or less in the lateral direction from said support means toward the path of the articles and cooperative means extending from said trigger member and actuating arms to control the rocked position of the latter relative to said support means in response to the lateral position of said trigger member so that, as long as the latter is engaged by an article to be marked and is thereby moved out of the path of the article, said actuating arms simultaneously engaging the article maintain the support means in a position wherein said cam means dispose said frame means to space said marking wheel from the side surface of the article and, when the article moves off the trigger member to permit the latter to move into the path of the articles, said actuating arms are free to rock in the direction decreasing the extent of their lateral projection from said support means to permit further movement of the latter toward the path of the articles for then bringing the marking wheel into initial rolling and marking contact with the side surface of the article facing toward the support means and to continuously urge the same against the moving article until said marking wheel has rolled along that side surface and across the trailing end surface of the article to complete the marking of said surfaces.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said supportmeans includes a support arm having said frame means rotatably mounted at one end thereof, said support arm being swingable about an axis' adjacent its other end parallel to the axis of rotation of the marking wheel, and said means yieldably urging said support; arm causes the latter to swing about said axis adjacent: its other end in the direction displacing said one end: the:

of the support arm toward the path of travel of articles.

3. A device for marking a side surface and the trailing:

end surface of each of a succession of rectangular articles moving along a straight path; said device comprising a support arm swingable about a verticalaxis adjacent one end thereof, said arm being disposed at one side of the path of the articles and extending from said axis generally in the direction of movement of the articles, a marking unit frame rotatably mounted at the other end of said support arm for swinging relative to the latter about a vertical axis, a marking wheel having marking means on the periphery thereof, said wheel being mounted on said frame for rotation relative to the latter about a vertical axis spaced from the swinging axis of said frame so that swinging of said frame moves said wheel between a first position adjacent said support arm and intermediate the ends of the latter and a second position extended beyond said other end of the support arm, means yieldably urging said support arm to swing in the direction moving said other end of the support arm toward the path of the articles, cam means operatively connected to said frame and swinging the latter relative to said support arm from said first tosecond positions and from said second to first positions in response to swinging of said support arm toward and away from, respectively, the path of the articles, and article actuated means controlling the swinging of said support arm so that, as an article to be marked moves along its straight path, said support arm is initially displaced in the direction away from the path of the article to dispose said wheel in its first position out of contact with the article, whereupon said support arm is released to move toward the path of the article and thereby bring said wheel into rolling and marked contact with the side surface of the article facing toward the support arm at a predetermined location along that side surface, said wheel being continuously urged against the moving article until said wheel has rolled and marked along that side surface and across the trailing end surface to the extent permitted by the swinging of said frame to its second position.

4. A device according to claim 3; further comprising latching means operative to hold said wheel non-rotatable relative to said frame in a predetermined locked position attained by said wheel following the marking of the trailing end surface of an article during the rolling of said wheel across the trailing end surface, and releasing means actuated by an article to be marked to render said latching means inoperative, and thereby to permit rotation of the wheel, when said wheel is first brought into contact with the side surface facing toward said support arm of the article to be marked.

5. A device according to claim 4; further comprising rollers on said marking wheel projecting beyond the periphery of the latter and circumferentially located to effect rolling contact with the trailing end surface of the article when said wheel reaches its predetermined locked rotational position so that said wheel can continue to move across the trailing end surface of the article during the remainder of its movement toward said second position of the wheel.

6. A device according to claim 3; further comprising latch means for locking said marking wheel in a predetermined rotational position relative to said marking unit frame, said latch means including a latch actuating rod carried by said marking wheel and projecting from the periphery of the latter when said latch means is operative to lock said marking wheel, said actuating rod releasing said latch means when said rod is urged into the marking wheel and extending generally normal to the path of the articles when said wheel is in said first position and said predetermined rotational position so that, upon release of said support arm for swinging toward the path of the article, said actuating rod engages the side surface of the article and is urged into the marking wheel to free the latter for rolling along the article.

7. A device according to claim 6; further comprising roller means rotatably carried by said marking wheel and projecting beyond the periphery of the latter at a location to effect rolling contact with the trailing end surface of the article upon the return of said wheel to said predetermined rotational position thereby to minimize the frictional effect of said wheel on the article during. the further movement of said wheel to. said second position thereof following its return to said predetermined-rotational position.

8. A device according vto claim 3; wherein said marking unit frame is mounted intermediate its ends on said support arm and said marking'wheel axis is disposed adjacent one of the ends of said frame; and wherein said cam means includes a fixed cam member defining a cam track extending generally in the direction of the path of the articles and located beyond said other end of the support arm in the direction of movement of the articles, and cam follower means on the other end of said frame engaging said cam track so that a relatively small, angular displacement of said support arm results in a relatively large movement of said wheel toward and away from the article path.

9. A device according to claim 8; wherein said cam track is defined by an elongated slot in said cam member which is closed at its opposite ends so that said second position of the marking wheel is determined by the engagement of said cam follower means against one end of said slot.

10. A device according to claim 8; further comprising resilient means between said support arm and frame operative to urge the latter toward said second position thereof for preventing jamming of said cam follower means in said cam track and for taking-up the play between said cam follower means and said cam track.

11. A device according to claim 3; further comprising a base mounted at said one side of the path of travel of the articles and adjustable laterally with respect to said path, vertical posts extending from said base, a support frame mounted on said posts and adjustable vertically with respect to the latter, and a vertical pivot pin on said support frameadjacent one end of the latter forming the vertical swinging axis of said support arm.

12. A device according to claim 11; wherein said vertical pivot pin is rotationally adjustable with respect to said support frame, and said means yieldably urging the support arm to swing toward the path of the articles includes torsion spring means on said vertical pivot pin secured at one end to the latter and at the other end to said support arm so that rotational adjustment of said pivot pin relative to said support frame changes the yieldable force urging the support arm toward the path of the articles.

13. A device according to claim 3; wherein said article actuated means controlling the swinging of said support arm includes a trigger member movable laterally into' and out of the path of travel of the articles, actuating arms. mounted on said support arm intermediate the ends of the latter for limited rocking with respect to said support arm and extending from said support arm generally in the direction toward said path ofthe articles at a location in advance of said marking wheel, considered in the direction of movement of the articles, so that, when said marking wheel is in its second position, an article moving toward said marking wheel first contacts said actuating arms and bears against the latter to move said support arm away from the path of the articles for displacing said marking wheel to its first position, and cooperative means extending from said trigger member and actuating arms to control the rocked position of the latter relative to the support arm in response to the lateral position of the trigger member so that, as long as the latter is engaged by an article to be marked and is thereby moved out of the path of the article, said actuating arms simultaneously engaging the article maintain the support arm in a position wherein said wheel is spaced from the side surface of the article, and, when the article moves off said trigger member to permit the latter to move into the path of the articles, said actuating arms. are then free to rock in the direction permitting swinging of the support arm toward the article path for bringing the marking wheel into initial contact with the side surface of the article.

14. A device according to claim 13; wherein said cooperative means includes a vertical pin on said trigger member and a control arm fixed with respect to said actuating arms and extending radially from the rocking axis of the latter in the general direction opposed to the movement of the articles, said control arm being engageable with said vertical pin on the trigger member.

15. A device for marking a side surface and the trailing end surface of each of a succession of rectangular articles moving along a straight path; said device comprising support means disposed at one side of the path of the articles and movable toward and away from the latter, means yieldably urging said support means toward the path of the articles, a marking unit frame rotatably mounted on said support means, a marking wheel mounted rotatably on said frame with the axistof said wheel parallel to and spaced from the axis of rotation of said frame relative to said support means so that swinging of said frame moves said wheel between a first retracted position adjacent said support means and a second position extending away from said support means into the path of the articles, cam means operatively connected to said frame and swinging the latter relative to said support means from said first to second positions and from said second to first positions in response to movemerit of said support means toward and away from, respectively, the path of the articles, and means controlling the movement of said support means including actuating means movably extending from said support means for engagement by an article to be marked to variably limit movement of said support means toward the path of the article and trigger means disposed in advance of said actuating means, considered in the direction of movement of the articles, and also engageable by an article to be marked, said trigger means cooperating with said actuating means to position said support means for holding said marking wheel out of contact with a side surface of an article passing the support means so long as said actuating means and trigger means simultaneously engage the article, and to permit movement of said actuating means relative to said support means so as to bring the marking wheel into initial marking contact with the side surface of the article when the latter moves out of engagement with said trigger means, whereupon, said wheel rolls and marks along that side surface and across the trailing end surface of the article to the extent permitted by the movement of said support means toward the path of the article.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,801,877 Pacher Apr. 21, 1931 1,896,556 Phelps Feb. 7, 1933 2,136,897 Thayer Nov. 15, 1938 2,664,816 Gibson Jan. 5, 1954 

